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Latest Update

The Environmental Sustainability Action Plan 2025/26 was approved at the Sustainability Steering Group (SSG) meeting in May 2025, and last reviewed by SSG in February 2026.

RAG Key

On track

In progress but some delays

Not started or major delays

    Sustainability and Climate Leadership

    Measure and track greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, set reduction targets and implement reduction actions and activities.

    Objective

    Develop and Implement a Sustainability and Climate Strategy, targets and action plan.

    February 2026 Update

    Third party consultants, Acclaro, appointed to support with developing Sustainability and Climate Strategy and Net Zero interim targets for 2030. To date, Strategy and Action Plan has been drafted, targets agreed, and Climate Change Risk Assessment drafted. Carbon Inventory for 2024/25 externally verified.

    March-June 2026 will see Staff & Student Consultation on Strategy and Targets and Publication of Strategy and Action Plan.

    Actions
    Action / targetPerformance measureInitiated and owned byDeadlineStatus
    Develop High-Level Sustainability and Climate Strategy Document and Phase One Action Plan 2025-2030.  To include lighter detail/outlook to Phase Two 2035 and broader outline for Phase Three 2035-2050.Strategy DocumentSustainability and CSR / Estate ServicesEnd July 2026On Track
    Develop content and actions in relation to education for sustainable development, sustainability in research outcomes and impact, sustainability outreach and partnerships.Strategy DocumentSustainability and CSREnd July 2026On Track
    Consultation with staff and students to develop Strategy Document and Phase One Action Plan 2025-2030.Consultation plan and findings reportSustainability and CSREnd July 2026On Track
    Determine formal interim net zero carbon reduction targets, action plan and investment costs for Ulster University across Scopes 1, 2 and 3 emissions to run co-terminously for 2030, 2040 and 2050 with net zero achieved on or before 2050.Net Zero Targets and Action PlanSustainability and CSR / Estate Services /Procurement DeptEnd July 2026On Track
    Develop a Risk Assessment for Climate Change Adaptation and Action Plan for each campus.Campus Risk Assessment and Action PlanSustainability and CSR / Estate ServicesEnd July 2026On Track
    Develop a methodology and procedure for carbon emission reporting in line with Higher Education sector approach for extracting, preparing and validating data for sustainability reporting including a focus on purchased goods and services including capital goods.Procedure and methodologySustainability and CSR / Estate Services / Procurement DeptEnd July 2026On Track
    Develop a methodology and procedure for carbon emission reporting in line with Higher Education sector approach for extracting, preparing and validating data for sustainability reporting including a focus on purchased goods and services including capital goods.Up-to-date Carbon AccountSustainability and CSR / Estate Services / Procurement DeptEnd July 2026On Track
    Establish 3rd Party conduct a annual independent verification of carbon account.Annual verification reportSustainability and CSR / Estate Services / Procurement DeptEnd July 2026On Track

    Competence, Awareness and Communication

    Engage in dialogue with students, staff and the wider community on environmental sustainability issues, and provide opportunities to develop knowledge, skills and awareness for sustainability.

    Objective

    • Encourage positive  behaviour change
    • Develop Staff and Student Induction
    • Support Staff and Student Sustainability Literacy
    • Support Staff and Student Carbon Literacy
    Actions
    Action / targetPerformance measureInitiated and owned byDeadlineFebruary 2026 UpdateRAG Status
    Promote the Net Zero Challenge (NZC) staff and Student engagement app.NZC CommunicationsEstates Services / UUSU / Sustainability and CSR / Marketing and CommsAnnuallyNZC launched Semester 1 and monthly prizes provided and Plasma Screen promotion.On Track
    Deliver sustainability communications through Insight and website.CommunicationsEstates Services & Marketing & CommsAnnuallyRevamp of Sustainability Website complete and regular Insight features i.e. No Disposable Cup Week, BITC and QS Results announcement.On Track
    Investigate options for e-learning sustainability induction for staff and students.Staff and Student Sustainability InductionSustainability and CSRAnnuallyEngagement with People & Culture and potential for Sustainability Induction via Evolve/LearningPool.On Track
    Implement the Education for Sustainable Development Responsible Futures Action Plan.Responsible FuturesResponsible Futures Working GroupAnnuallyRegular Working Group Meetings and review of Action Plan.On Track
    Investigate options for a sustainability research institute.Options PaperResearch Cluster GroupEnd July 2026To be considered as part of emerging Strategy Action Plan.On Track
    Engage Faculties, Schools and Students' Union to participate in Carbon Literacy Training.Carbon Literacy Training OpportunitiesSustainability and CSRAnnuallyNovember 2025: Carbon Literacy Training took place, with additional courses scheduled for March 2026.On Track

    Reporting, Compliance and Performance

    Report publicly on environmental sustainability performance and demonstrate compliance and performance via international, national, regional and HE sector submissions, accreditations & certifications.

    Objective

    • Report publicly on performance
    • Meet compliance obligations
    • Maintain external verification and benchmarking
    Actions
    Action / targetPerformance measureInitiated and owned byDeadlineFebruary 2026 UpdateRAG Status
    Publish an Annual Sustainability Report on website.Annual ReportSustainability and CSRAnnually2024/25 Report approved by SSG and SLT, to be published March 2026.On Track
    Fulfil climate change reporting obligations set by The Climate Change (Reporting Bodies) Regulations (NI) 2024.DAERA Public Bodies Reporting SubmissionSustainability and CSR and Estates ServicesAnnuallyPBR Mitigation Report submitted by 31 October 2025 deadline.On Track
    Complete a HESA Annual return.HESA SubmissionEstates Services / Sustainability and CSRAnnuallyHESA return completed.On Track
    Complete the EAUC Sustainability Leadership Scorecard.SLS SubmissionSustainability and CSRAnnuallyFollow up with EAUC if reporting under these initiatives are still a requirementOn Track
    Complete an annual SDG Accord report.SDG Accord ReportSustainability and CSRAnnuallyOn Track
    Return a submission to the BITC NI Benchmarking Survey.BITC SubmissionSustainability and CSRAnnuallySubmission completed and Platinum Award received.On Track
    Return a submission to the THE Impact Rankings.THE Impact RankingSustainability and CSRAnnuallyTHE Submission made November 2025.On Track
    Return a submission to the QS Sustainability Ranking.QS Sustainability RankingSustainability and CSRAnnuallySubmission made and results received December 2025.On Track
    Return a submission to the People and Planet University League.QS Sustainability RankingSustainability and CSRAnnuallySubmission made and results received September 2025.On Track
    Maintain ISO 14001 joint certification for Estates and Procurement.ISO14001 CertificationEstates Services and ProcurementAnnual CertificationInternal Audits scheduled for February 2026 in advance of External Audit scheduled April 2026.On Track
    Maintain Responsible Futures Accreditation.Responsible Futures AccreditationSustainability and CSR and Learning EnhancementAnnual CertificationAccreditation ongoing.On Track
    Pilot and seek Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Accreditation.LEAF AccreditationSustainability and CSR and FacultiesAnnual Accreditation2-3 wet labs seeking Bronze LEAF Accreditation Semester 2 2026.On Track
    Pilot and seek GreenDiSC Accreditation.GreenDiSC AccreditationSustainability and CSR, Faculties and Digital ServicesAnnual AccreditationMeeting with GreenDiSC re. Pilot - took place November 2025.On Track
    Pilot and seek BiTC CORE Framework Accreditation.CORE Framework AccreditationSustainability and CSRAnnual AccreditationAccreditation ongoing.On Track

    Energy

    Continually improve energy performance by reducing energy consumption, increasing energy efficiency in buildings and equipment and minimising carbon emissions by using low and zero carbon technologies wherever possible.

    Objective

    Identify opportunities for Energy Efficiency.

    Actions
    Action / targetPerformance measureInitiated and owned byDeadlineFebruary 2026 UpdateRAG Status
    Target an annual energy reduction of 2.5% (kWh/m2) from AY2023/24 to the end of AY 2025/26
    		EM&T ReportsEstates ServicesEnd July 2026On track.On Track
    Ensure key new build projects include systems and metering that complies with existing energy management and tracking system.
    		Systems and MetersEstates ServicesEnd July 2026On track.On Track
    Identify third party energy auditors to conduct building audits at to identify energy saving projects.
    		Energy audit reportsEstates ServicesEnd July 2026Under review.On Track
    Implement new Metering and Targeting System to optimise carbon and energy data, identify opportunities for energy and cost saving.
    		M&T SystemEstates ServicesEnd July 2026On track.On Track
    Implement on-campus solar generation projects.
    		M&T SystemEstates ServicesEnd July 2026Projects identified and briefs drafted.On Track

    Water

    Use water efficiently and identify waste-avoidance opportunities.

    Objective

    Use water efficiently

    Actions
    Action / targetPerformance measureInitiated and owned byDeadlineFebruary 2026 UpdateRAG Status
    Develop business case for installation of water meters linked to BMS to track and report water consumptionWater Monitoring and ReportingEstates ServicesEnd July 2026Under review.On Track
    Meet abstraction licence requirements for borewell (as per licence).Water Abstraction ReadingsEstates ServicesEnd July 2026Ongoing.On Track

    Construction and Refurbishment

    Sustainable design, construction and refurbishment.

    Objective

    Develop campuses sustainably.

    Actions
    Action / target Performance measure Initiated and owned byDeadline February 2026 Update RAG Status
    Implement Sustainable Construction and Retrofit Procedure. Project Briefs & Reports Estates Services End July 2026 Procedure implemented and refresh and edit of procedure ongoing. On Track

    Waste

    Objective

    Reduce volume of waste generated.

    Actions
    Action / targetPerformance measureInitiated and owned byDeadlineFebruary 2026 UpdateRAG Status
    Maintain total routine and commercial waste generated below 400 tonnes.Waste Monitoring and ReportingAll Departments and Commercial TenantsEnd July 2026On track.On Track
    Develop a Sustainable Events Guide with Provost Portfolio - Campus Life and Marketing and Communications.GuideEstates Services, Campus Life and Marketing and CommunicationsEnd July 2026Under review.On Track
    Investigate opening the Warpit reuse portal to third parties.WarpitEstates ServicesEnd July 2026Under review.On Track

    Transport

    Reduce single occupancy car travel by staff and students and reduce the environmental impact arising from commuter and business travel.

    Objective

    Increase travel to campus via low carbon means - public transport, car-sharing and active travel.

    Actions
    Action / targetPerformance measureInitiated and owned byDeadlineFebruary 2026 UpdateRAG Status
    Develop and implement consolidated travel planConsolidated Travel PlanEstates ServicesEnd July 2026Third party consultant supporting revision and update of Travel Plan. Travel Plan under review by the Travel & Transport Project Board.On Track
    Sustainable Travel for Business Review Group to propose new sustainable travel policy and principles for reducing business travel and associated carbon emissionsSustainable Travel Policy and Business Travel PrinciplesSustainable Travel for Business Review GroupEnd July 2026Ongoing.On Track

    Biodiversity

    Maintain green spaces to enhance biodiversity and community wellbeing.

    Objective

    Increase awareness of biodiversity among staff and students

    Actions
    Action / targetPerformance measureInitiated and owned byDeadlineFebruary 2026 UpdateRAG Status
    Expand Natural Capital Assessment pilot to include Derry~Londonderry and Jordanstown campuses.Natural Capital AssessmentEstates ServicesEnd July 2026DLD and JN Natural Capital Assessments completed.On Track